Metal edging for desk or table tops



Nov. 19, 1935.

F. L. G. STRAUBEL METALEDGING FOR DESK OR TABLE TOPS Filed June 7, 1928 G- ff r to be jarred loose.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE lVIETAL EDGING; FOR DESK OR TABLE TOPS Wisconsin Application June 7, 1928, Serial No. 283,568

1 Claim.

My invention relates to edge constructions for the tops of desks, office tables and the like, and in its main objects aims to provide a desk or table top construction including an ornamental strip adapted to guard the outer edge of an upper facing of linoleum or the like, which construction will permit a ready attaching of this edge strip and a firm retaining of the same.

In the development of metal oiiice furniture, it has become customary to provide tables and the like with sheet metal top plates faced with linoleum and supported by metal frames which underhang these top plates. With such an assembly, it is difficult to secure an accurate alining of the edges of the metal top plate with those of the linoleum and the supporting frame, and the freely exposed edge of a linoleum facing would be easily damaged or frayed. Consequently, it is highly desirable to provide such desk or table tops with edge strips surrounding the edges of both the sheet metal top and the linoleum.

However, such a strip edging must be held securely in its proper position to insure the desired ornamental appearance and to avoid cracks which Would collect dust. Corner joints for the edging also should be avoided, both because these are unslightly and apt to collect dust, and also because any gaps at such joints may present sharp edges on which any one touching the corner of the desk top might cut his hands. Furthermore, the means for holding such an edging in position should be such as to hold it securely, and such holding means preferably should not include any bolts or the like since such fastenings are apt So also, the provisions for anchoring the ornamental edging preferably should not add materially to the cost or the shipping Weight.

My present invention aims to provide a table top or desk top construction having all of these desirable characteristics, and one which can easily be assembled at the factory. More particularly, my invention aims to provide a top assembly of this class, in which the sheet metal top can be securely attached to the supporting frame and faced with the linoleum before the ornamental edging is attached, in which the provisions for anchoring the edging will include no bolts or allied fastening elements, and in which the resulting assemblage will have no portions projecting below the frame which supports the top plate.

More particularly, my invention provides a construction for this purpose in which the supporting frame has portions formed for interlocking with the edging to retain the latter in its proper position, in which parts of the frame adjacent to its said interlocking lportions are resilient to permit such an interlocking of the edging with the frame, in which downward pressure 5 on the assembled table top tends to increase the gripping of the edging, and in which the corners of the edging can be suitably formed and finished before the edging is attached to the other parts.

Still further and also more detailed objects will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a corner portion of a table top or desk top embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, taken while the edging is being inserted.

Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective View of a corner 20 portion of the plate-supporting frame member of Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 5 is a (diagrammatically proportioned) plan view of such a table top, showing how the edging is initially formed and then attached.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet metal top plate l, which has an upper linoleum facing 2 cemented to it, is supported by a main edge member consisting of a steel frame of substantially channel-shaped vertical section opening inwardly and with the back of the channel vertical. This frame desirably is a little larger in outside dimensions than the metal top plate, so as to project slightly beyond the edge of said top plate and linoleum. This channel-sectioned frame has its lower web 3 horizontal and resting on the pedestal 4 of the desk or table, while the vertical channel back or riser web 5 is desirably of a height simulating the thickness of a Wooden table top or desk top. The upper web of each side of the frame has its free end portion 6 in flatWise engagement with the bottom of the sheet metal top plate I, while the part 1 of this iiange adjacent to the channel back (or riser web) 5 of the frame is offset downwardly preferably by a distance somewhat less than the thickness of the inwardly directed horizontal web 8 of an angle-sectioned edging which has a riser web 9 at its outer edge.

This horizontal web 8 of the edging and the part of the upper frame which underhangs it are formed so that they interlock to prevent an outward sliding of the edging and, as will be apparent from the drawing, are so proportioned with respect to one another, the riser web and the parts of the top including the plate l and the surfacing member 2, that they coact to draw or urge the riser web toward and into tight engagement with the edge of the surfacing member 2. For this purpose, I desirably bend the inner edge of the edging web 8 downwardly (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3) to form a hooking edge portion I0, and form the upper frame web to aord an upwardly open groove I I interposed between the web portions 6 and 1, which groove houses the said hooking edge portion I0. The outwardly sloping wall or shoulder of the groove I I engages the hooking edge portion, flange or shoulder I and normally tends to urge the horizontal web 8 inwardly and the riser web 9 toward and against the edge of the surfacing member 2- by a camming action to which action contribution is made by the resiliency of the main edge member and the edging strip.

In assembling the parts, the sheet metal plate I is first secured to the web 6 of the frame, desirably by spot welding, leaving the web portion I freely spaced from the bottom of said plate. Then the generally horizontal web 8 of the ornamental edging is slipped inwardly between the web portion 'I and the plate I.

In doing this, the frame (which is of resilient steel or other metal) is sprung as shown in Fig. 3 owing to the downward bending of the hooking edge portion I 0. As soon as this hooking portion enters the groove I I, the outer portion of the frame springs back upwards to its normal crosssection of Fig. 2, thereby latching the edging against retraction, while the resiliency of the frame also clamps the web 8 of the edging tightly between the web portion 'I of the frame andthe top plate I. By making the grooved portion II of a suitable width, I can readily secure the needed resiliency in the upper web of the frame, so as to permit the use of a hooking edge portion I0 of adequate width, and by suitably proportioning the above described parts I can secure the above described interlocking when the riser web 9 snugly engages the edge of the linoleum.

By suitably mitering the horizontal webs of the frame at the corners of the frame, I readily permit each side of the frame to be sprung independently during such assembly, making it easy for the manufacturer to attach separate edge strips corresponding in length to the four edges of the sheet metal top plate. So also, by sloping the inner face of the riser web 9 of the edging inwardly I can obtain a close fit to the desirably beveled edge of the linoleum, thereby avoiding dust-collecting gaps and enhancing 'the appearance of the assembled top.

What is more, the independent flexibility of the sides and ends of the frame permits me also to avoid corner joints in the ornamental edging, since I can apply the edging .in continuous strips extending around one or more corners if the lower webs 8 are previously mitered. For example, Fig. shows such an application of the edging in the form of two strips, each initially corresponding in length to one-half the periphery of the metal table top and each having two miter cuts I2 spaced by the length of the top. 5

With brass of a suitable grade, such strips when bent and snapped into position will afford corners free from nicks or gaps, leaving only two joints at inconspicuous places.

In practice, I have found that sufficient re- 10 siliency for the frame can be secured when making this of the grade of sheet steel commonly used in the manufacture of metal office furniture, so that my construction involves no increase in the cost. In the finished top, the weight of the l5 sheet metal top plate and its linoleum, together with the weight of any objects resting on it, all tend to increase the gripping of the bottom webs of the ornamental edging, so that this is held with unusual firmness. By avoiding the use of auxiliary clamping strips, bolts and the like, I save the cost of these and also eliminate the risk of having nuts work loose. Furthermore, my construction leaves the lower webs 3 of the supporting frame entirely flat and free of screwheads or other downward projections commonly found on desk tops of this class, so that I also save the operations heretofore needed on the pedestals to accommodate such projections.

However, while I have illustrated and described my 'invention in an embodiment in which the metal top plate carries a facing of linoleum and in which the Ylatter has a beveled edge, I do not wish to be limited to these or other details of the construction and arrangement disclosed. Changes may obviously be made without departing either from the spirit of my invention or from the appended claim, and I also do not wish to be limited to the use of my ornamental edged tops on any particular class of furniture. 40

I claim as my invention:

A desk top comprising a metal plate, a main metal frame supporting-said plate and having each side of the frame comprising a plate portion having an inner portion engaging and secured to the bottom of said plate, an outer portion downwardly spaced from said plate and an intermediate portion depressed below the level of said outer portion, a frame-like edge strip comprising in unitary formation a bottom flange disposed and clamped between the metal plate and said outer portion, an offset portion on said bottom flange disposed in vsaid intermediate portion of said plate portion, and a riser web extending uppardly from the outer edge of the bottom ange and extending along the outer edge of said plate, and coacting inclined surfaces on said offset portion of said bottom flange of said edge strip and on an adjacent part of said intermediate portion for urging said riser web toward said plate.

FREDERICK L. G. STRAUBEL. 

